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31833027626917 


GC 

974.701 
UL7o 
1910 


AUGUST  1 9 10 


Price  Twenty-five  Cents 


OLD"^  VLSTER 


An  Hiftorical  and  Genealogical  Magazine 


KINGSTON,    N.     Y. 
Puhlifhed  by  the   Editor^  B enj amin  Myer  Brink 


It.   ».  Anderfon  ft*  Son,  PHnUrs,  W.  Strand,  Xi^g/lon,  JV.  Y. 


i^;  .^--'"^^'■-^f^fiifi 


4    <  '" '-iLi" 


u 


LSTER  County 

SAVINGS  Institution 


No.  278  Wall  Street 
Kingston,  New  York 


Depofits,  $3,500,000.00 


K 


INGSTON 

SAVINGS  BANK 


No.  273  Wall  Street 
Kingston,  New  York 


OFFICERS: 


James  A.  Betts,  Pres  Chas  Tappen,  Treas 

\,  \  j^.     r>     Chas.  H. 
'  >  Vtce-Pres 

J.  J.  Linson,  Counsel 


Myron  Teller,  \  j^.     „     Chas.  H.  DeLaVergne, 
John  E.  Kraft,  \  ^^^^-^^^^  Asst  Treas. 


nPHE   DR.   C    O.   SAHLER   SANITARIUM 

KINGSTON,  N.    Y. 

A\^otaI  an^d  Nervous  Dis^z^s^s 


CONTENTS 

Vol.  VI  AUGUST,  1910  No.  8 

pagh 

The  Iroquois  and  Old  Ulster 225 

Building  the  Delaware  and  Hudson   Canal 231 

Manuel  Gonzales  and  His  Nickname 238 

Anthonij  van  Hooges,  a  Charming  Personality .  .  240 

The  Old  Kingston  Academy 245 

Slavery  in  Ulster  County 246 

Tawarataque  and  the   H urley  Boundary 246 

Lineage  of  the  Christian   Meyer  Family 247 

Organizing   the    State  Government  at  Kingston 

K^777) 255 

Editorial  Notes    256 


F 


ORSYTH     &     DAVIS 

BooF^0eller0  an^  Stationere 

J 07    WALL   STREET,   KINGSTON,    N.    V. 


jTyiE  have  a  few  copies  of  the  Dutch  Church  Records 
\^  of  Kingston  (baptisms  and  marriages  from  1660 
through  1 8 10)  elegantly  printed  on  807  royal 
quarto  pages,  with  exhaustive  index  containing  refer- 
ences to  44,388  names,  edited  by  Chaplain  R.  R.  Hoes, 
U.  S.  N.,  and  printed  by  the  DeVinne  Pre.'>s.  N.  Y.  But 
few  Knickerbocker  families  can  trace  their  ancestry 
Avithout  reference  to  this  volume. 

^  Dr.  Gustave  Anjou's  Ulster  County  Probate  Rec 
ords  from  1 665 ;  invaluable  in  tracing  ancestry — in  tw- 
volumes. 

We  also  have  a  large  line  of  Souvenir  Postal  Cards  show- 
ing local  scenes,  including  the  Revolutionary  Buildings, 

Souvenir  Spoons,  commemorating  250th  anniver 
sary  of  the  founding  of  Kingston.  Specially  prepared 
by  the  Gorham  Company. 

ii 


OLD"^  VLSTER 


Vol.  VI 


AUGUST,  1910 


No.  8 


The  Iroquois  and 

j^  ^  ^   Old  Ulster 


z 


HE  great  Indian  confederacy  known  as  the 
"  Five  Nations "  dominated  the  Indian 
tribes  of  this  country  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  north  of  the  Carolinas.  This 
magazine  has  often  spoken  of  the  tribute 
it  exacted  from  the  tribes  under  its  suzer- 
eignty.  It  is  proposed  to  speak  here  of 
its  influence  in  the  earliest  history  of  the 
region  of  the  Esopus  in  behalf  of  the 
settlers.  For  from  the  time  when  Jacob  Eelkens 
negotiated  his  famous  treaty  in  1618  with  the  Indians 
at  Tawasentha,  just  below  Fort  Orange  (Albany), 
which  was  usually  referred  to  by  the  red  men  as  "  The 
Covenant  Chain,"  or  "The  Silver  Covenant  Chain," 
the  Iroquois,  the  great  confederacy  of  central  New 
York,  could  be  depended  upon  to  control  the  river 
Indians  in  all  the  troubles  between  them  and  the 
settlers  of  this  region. 


225 


Olde     Ulster 


We  have  heretofore  (Olde  Ulster,  Vol.  IV., 
pages  l-io)  told  the  story  of  the  treaty  thus  called  by 
the  Iroquois.  We  will  recount  its  influence  during 
the  early  story  of  the  Esopus.  In  1646,  seven  years 
before  Thomas  Chambers  purchased  his  first  tract  of 
land  from  the  red  men,  after  the  Indian  troubles  under 
Director-General  Keift,  the  articles  of  the  treaty  of 
peace  concluded  at  New  Amsterdam  were  signed  by 
the  chiefs  of  the  river  Indians  "in  presence  of  the 
Maquas  [Iroquois]  ambassadors." 

It  was  not  until  the  Indian  troubles  of  May,  1658, 
terrorized  the  settlement  that  the  value  of  that  friend- 
ship under  the  "  Covenant  Chain  "  really  appeared. 
The  carousal  of  the  Esopus  Indians  over  the  ten- 
gallon  keg  of  brandy  they  obtained  from  the  Albany 
fur  traders,  which  occasioned  the  killing  of  Harmen 
Jacobsen  by  the  drunken  savages  on  May  ist,  1658, 
led  to  the  founding  of  the  village  at  the  Esopus 
(Wildwyck,  Kingston)  May  31,  1658.  At  the  confer- 
ence Stuyvesant  held  at  that  time  with  the  Esopus 
Indians  he  asked  of  them  if  the  Dutch  had  not  come 
to  settle  among  them  at  the  request  of  the  Indians 
themselves  and  if  they  had  not  bought  outright  all  the 
lands  which  they  had  taken.  The  Indians  assented. 
This  assent  was  many  times  thereafter  made  use  of 
by  the  Iroquois  when  they  were  called  upon  in  quar- 
rels between  the  Esopus  Indians  and  the  Dutch. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1659,  ninety-six  Indians 
appeared  before  the  gate  of  the  stockade  at  the  Eso- 
pus. Friction  had  continued  between  the  Esopus 
Indians  and  the  settlers  since  the  troubles  which  led 
to  the  building  of  that  stockade.     A  conference  was 

226 


The  Iroquois  and  Old  Ulster 


held  with  these  savages  at  which  some  Iroquois  were 
present.  The  Indian  orator  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  when  the  Dutch  settlers  of  the  Esopus  fled 
from  their  homes  during  the  Indian  troubles  about 
Manhattan  in  1655  the  Esopus  Indians  had  entered 
the  Esopus  but  had  done  no  harm.  They  had  per- 
mitted the  settlers  to  re-occupy  their  homes  and,  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  Iroquois,  had  "  concluded  a  per- 
petual peace  with  them  and  the  Maquas  [Iroquois].'* 
But  on  the  night  of  the  i6th  of  the  same  month 
occurred  the  drunken  Kintekoy  of  the  savages  as  they 
finished  husking  the  corn  of  Thomas  Chambers.  It 
was  followed  by  the  senseless  attack  upon  the  sleep- 
ing savages  by  the  hotheaded  of  the  settlers  and  the 
trouble  known  as  "The  First  Esopus  War  "  was  the 
result.  This  was  settled  by  the  treaty  negotiated  on 
the  present  "Academy  Green''  in  Kingston  on  the 
15th  of  July,  1660,  and  known  as  "  The  Treaty  Made 
Under  the  Blue  Sky."  (See  Olde  Ulster,  Vol.  V., 
pages  264-68.)  The  first  names  to  the  treaty  are  those 
of  the  Iroquois  representatives.  During  the  interven- 
ing time  messengers  from  the  Senecas  had  been 
laboring  with  the  local  Indians  to  bring  this  about. 
At  a  conference  held  with  the  Mohawk  sachems  at 
Fort  Orange  on  the  19th  of  October  of  that  year 
(1659)  it  had  been  proposed  that  the  Mohawks  declare 
war  against  the  Esopus  Indians  unless  they  kept  quiet. 
The  truth  was  that  the  elder  men  of  the  local  Indians 
desired  peace.  It  was  the  hot-headed  youngsters,  called 
by  the  Dutch  kalebakkeren  (naked  faces)  who  ach^d 
for  a  fight  and  made  the  trouble.  Meanwhile  the 
Iroquois  had  sent  the  Esopus  Indians  this  message  : 

227 


Olde     Ulster 


"  The  Maquas  and  the  Dutch  were  brothers  and  bound 
by  one  chain  for  a  long  time  :  If  this  chain  were  broken 
they  would  all  be  very  much  distressed  and  weep  like  chil- 
dren, ' ' 

While  this  was  occurring  Stuyvesant  wrote  to 
Ensign  Smit  recommending  him  to  "  inveigle  "  some 
savages  into  the  stockade  and  seize  them  and  hold 
them  as  hostages.  This  was  followed  by  the  sale  of 
those  captives  as  slaves  in  the  West  Indies  to  strike 
terror  in  the  hearts  of  the  Esopus  Indians.  It  led  to 
reprisals,  the  massacre  of  June  7,  1663,  the  seizure  of 
the  women  and  children  of  Esopus  (Kingston)  and 
Nieuw  Dorp  (Hurley)  and  the  Second  Esopus  War, 

Once  more  the  assistance  of  the  Iroquois  was 
solicited.  It  was  even  proposed  that  an  effort  be 
made  to  have  the  Mohawks  declare  war  against  the 
Esopus.  But  this  was  opposed.  No  Indian  war  was 
desired.  At  last  Mohawks  were  employed  as  scouts 
to  search  the  country  to  locate  the  Indians  in  charge 
of  the  captives  and  through  the  efforts  of  these 
Mohawks  their  presence  at  "  The  New  Fort  "  in  Shaw- 
angunk  was  discovered.  It  was  one  of  these 
Mohawks  who  prevailed  upon  the  Indians  in  charge 
of  the  captives  not  to  take  them  out  into  the  woods 
at  night  and  tie  them  with  thongs  to  trees  distant 
from  each  other  so  that  they  could  not  be  found  at 
night  and  rescued  by  the  Dutch.  Thus  when  the 
Dutch  troops  reached  the  Indian  stronghold  the  cap- 
tive women  and  children  were  there. 

The  Second  Esopus  War  was  settled  by  the  treaty 
made  at  New  Amsterdam  on  May  15,  1664.  At  this 
conference  there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  present 
228 


The  Iroquois  and  Old  Ulster 


any  Iroquois  chieftains.  But  the  principal  spokesman 
for  the  Esopus  Indians  announced  that  the  Iroquois 
"  are  well  pleased  and  satisfied  that  the  peace  between 
the  Esopus  and  the  Dutch  is  to  be  concluded." 

To  the  subsequent  conferences  at  which  the 
Indians  disposed  of  lands  in  the  Esopus  the  Iroquois 
sent  no  delegates.  They  claimed  no  interest  in  the 
title  to  land.  But  they  insisted  upon  the  recognition 
of  their  authority  over  the  tribes  as  overlords.  It 
was  one  of  the  complaints  of  the  Esopus  red  men  that 
embassies  of  the  Maquas  passed  through  Esopus  vil- 
lages without  condescending  to  notice  them  despite 
the  greetings  which  were  given  them.  Thus  to  be 
counted  beneath  the  recognition  of  these  proud  war- 
riors was  an  insult  they  could  hardly  bear.  It  made 
the  subject  red  men  furious  almost  to  fighting. 

It  is  an  interesting  matter  of  inquiry  to  what  an 
extent  this  relation  to  the  tribes  under  their  domina- 
tion influenced  the  habits,  manners  and  customs  of 
such  subjects.  It  is  known  that  the  "  People  of  the 
Long  House,  "  as  the  Iroquois  delighted  to  call  them- 
selves, developed  strongly  along  domestic  and  family 
lines.  Inheritance  was  through  the  mother.  Their 
houses  were  long  wigwams  in  which  many  families 
united  their  homes.  Their  chieftains  were  nominated 
by  the  matrons  of  the  families  to  be  elected  at  the  tri- 
bal councils.  The  question  of  war  or  peace  was 
decided  in  assemblies  in  which  the  women  had  a  voice. 
Women  must  agree  to  the  sale  of  land.  Within  the 
tribes  the  family  or  clan  was  of  greater  influence  and 
importance  than  the  tribe  itself. 

As   the   documents  to  which  the  Esopus  Indians 


229 


Olde     Ulster 


were  parties  are  examined  we  find  that  woman  holds 
a  large  place  therein.  The  Indian  deed  to  the  twelve 
Huguenots  (which  preceded  the  New  Paltz  patent)  con- 
tains the  names  of  two  women,  Mam-a-roch  and  Wa- 
wa-mis.  When  the  lands  at  "  Koxsinck  "  were  wished 
in  purchase  by  Cornells  Swits  it  was  found  that  they 
were  owned  by  Mam-ar-i-och-qua,  the  former  of  the 
above  named  Indian  women.  She  would  not  sign  them 
away  until  after  the  return  of  her  son  then  away  trap- 
ping beavers. 

History  tells  of  the  great  Indian  conference  at 
Geneseo  in  1797  when  the  Senecas  sold  for  $100,000 
their  lands  in  western  New  York.  For  twenty  days 
thousands  of  Indians  discussed  the  matter.  On  the 
two  sides  of  the  question  the  red  men  were  divided. 
With  wonderful  eloquence  Red  Jacket  led  in  oppo- 
sition. Almost  as  great  was  Cornplanter  on  the  other 
side  in  favor.  It  was  not  determined  until  the  women 
were  won  over  to  the  side  of  sale  by  the  eloquent 
tongue  of  the  latter.  The  women  decided  to  sell  the 
great  tract  and  it  was  signed  away. 

The  treaty  made  with  the  Esopus  Indians  by  Gov- 
ernor Andros  April  27,  1677  has  the  signatures  of 
three  Indians  who  declare  they  sign  for  families — 
Kaelcop,  Kugakapo  and  Wengiswars,  who  respectively 
sign  for  the  Amogarickakan,  Mahow  and  Kakatawis 
families, 

,  It  was  this  family  tie  which  developed  into  the 
elan.  When  the  remnants  of  the  tribe  were  finally 
merged  into  other  tribes  the  Esopus,  largely  of  the 
clan  of  the  Wolf,  gravitated  to  the  Delawares  and  the 
Oneidas  where  that  clan  was  the  strongest. 


230 


Building  the  Delaware 

^  ^  and  Hudson  Canal 

|CCESS  t-o  the  region  of  the  Minisink 
was  a  great  problem  from  the  earliest 
days  of  the  settlement  of  the  vast 
region  known  as  the  Esopus.  This 
magazine  (Vol.  Ill,,  pages  33-41)  told 
the  story  of  "The  Old  Mine  Road." 
For  years  it  was  the  outlet.  The  other  outlet,  which 
was  down  the  Delaware  river,  was  dangerous,  difficult 
and  uncertain.  About  one  hundred  years  ago  the  dis- 
covery of  excellent  anthracite  coal,  and  the  further 
discovery  that  it  could  readily  be  made  the  best  of  fuel 
led  to  various  devices  to  reach  the  Delaware  river  and 
the  coal  mines.  In  1813  the  first  mine  had  been 
opened  to  obtain  coal  for  the  market.  But  the  enter- 
prise was  not  successful  and  little  was  mined  and 
shipped. 

The  laws  of  Pennsylvania  provided  that  debtors  be 
imprisoned  for  debt.  And  when  such  unfortunates 
saw  before  them  the  terrors  of  an  indefinite  incarcera- 
tion many  fled  from  the  prospect. 

Among  the  successful  merchants  of  Philadelphia  in 
the  decade  1810-20  was  Maurice  Wurts.  He  was  not 
only  a  successful  merchant  but  public  spirited,  far- 
seeing  and  broad-minded.  In  his  business  transactions 
had  come  to  him  interests  outside  of  matters  relating 
to   his    own  province  in   mercantile  affairs.     He  had 

231 


Olde     Ulster 


acquired  mountain  lands  and  other  unproductive  real- 
estate  holdings.  One  day  he  journeyed  into  northeast- 
ern Pennsylvania  to  visit  and  inspect  some  wild  lands 
of  which  the  title  had  passed  to  him.  Here  he  met  a 
man  in  hiding  who  owed  a  considerable  amount  with- 
out the  ability  to  make  his  assets  available.  Examin- 
ation showed  that  the  land  was  underlaid  with  what 
was  then  known  as  "  stone  coal,"  or  anthracite.  Wurts 
immediately  awoke  to  the  pressing  importance  of  get- 
ting access  to  the  markets.  His  active  mind  began  to 
devise  schemes.  Despite  every  other  suggestion  the 
great  need  was  water  conveyance  to  tide  water  on  the 
Hudson.  It  was  before  the  days  of  railroads  and  the 
country  was  going  wild  over  internal  improvement  by 
building  canals  for  "  slack-water  navigation."  Wurts 
grasped  the  idea  and  proceeded  to  work  it  out.  First 
of  all  he  obtained  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  an 
act  permitting  him  to  improve  the  Lackawaxen,  at 
whose  headwaters  the  coal  lands  lay  that  had  been 
found.  This  done  he  sought  his  outlet  to  the  world 
that  awaited  a  supply  of  the  best  of  fuel. 

A  Philadelphian,  he  attempted  to  get  easy  access 
to  that  city.  An  examination  of  the  Delaware  soon 
showed  it  not  available  for  water  communication.  He 
sought  a  direct  route  to  the  Hudson  about  Newburgh 
or  Cornwall.  Mountain  ranges,  especially  the  Shaw- 
angunks,  barred  the  way  for  a  canal  and  a  water  sup- 
ply for  higher  levels.  One  day  he  met  Abraham 
Cuddeback  and  talked  with  him  of  his  project.  Cud- 
deback  told  him  that  he  must  follow  the  "  Old  Mine 
Road  "  to  'Sopus,  as  Kingston  was  always  spoken  of 
in  the  days  when  the  Dutch  was  the  colloquial  tongue. 
The  advice  was  followed. 

232 


Building  the  Delaware  and  Hzidson  Cattal 

The  incorporation  of  a  company  to  carry  out  the 
project  was  necessary,  and  on  the  23rd  of  April,  1823, 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  passed  an 
act,  the  preamble  of  which  sets  forth  : 

"Whereas,  it  is  desirable  that  a  channel  should  be 
opened  through  which  the  city  of  New  York,  and  other 
parts  of  the  state,  may  receive  a  supply  of  stone  coal,  which 
is  found  in  the  interior  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  : 

^^  And  whereas,  there  is  a  large  body  of  this  valuable 
article,  belonging  to  Maurice  Wurts,  of  the  said  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  situated  near  the  head  waters  of  the  river 
Lackawaxen,  which  empties  into  the  river  Delaware,  oppo- 
site the  county  of  Sullivan  ;  and  the  legislature  of  that  state 
has  recently  passed  an  act,  authorizing  the  above  named 
individual  to  improve  the  navigation  of  said  river  : 

"  And  whereas  it  is  represented,  that  a  water  communi- 
cation can  be  found  between  the  rivers  Delaware  and  Hud- 
son, through  the  counties  of  Orange,  Sullivan  and  Ulster,  or 
some  one  or  more  of  them,  so  that  a  supply  of  this  coal  may 
be  had  from  the  source  aforesaid  ;  and  a  number  of  the  citi- 
zens of  this  state  have  petitioned  the  legislature  to  incorpor- 
ate a  company  for  the  purpose  of  making  such  a  communi- 
tion  between  the  two  rivers.     Therefore, 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly,  That  for  the  purpose  of 
cutting  a  canal,  and  making  a  complete  slack  water  naviga- 
tion, between  the  rivers  Delaware  and  Hudson,  it  shall  be 
lawful  to  open  books  for  receiving  and  entering  subscriptions 
to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  shares  of 
one  hundred  dollars  each  share,  under  the  management  and 
superintendence  of  G.  B.  Vroom,  Philip  Hone,  Lynde  Cat- 
lin,  Jonathan  Thompson,  Gerret  B.  Abeel,  George  Janeway, 
and  Ehsha  Tibbits,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  or  any  three  or 
more  of  them,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  under  the  man- 
agement and  superintendence  of  George  D.  Wickham  and 
233 


Olde     Ulster 


Hector  Craig  of  the  county  of  Orange,  and  Abraham  Has- 
brouck  and  John  C.  Brodhead  of  the  county  of  Ulster  or  any 
two  of  them  at  such  places  within  the  counties  of  Orange, 
Sullivan  or  Ulster,  as  they  or  any  two  of  them,  may  deem 
expedient-" 

The  act  of  incorporation  provided  that  tolls  were 
not  to  exceed  the  rate  of  eight  cents  per  mile  for  every 
ton  weight  of  the  ascertained  capacity  of  any  boat,  and 
permission  was  given  to  the  company  to  acquire  all  the 
rights,  privileges  and  interests  of  Maurice  Wurts, 
granted  him  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvaniaby  the  afore- 
mentioned act  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the  river 
Lackawaxen. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  on  April  7,  1824 
authorized  the  increase  of  the  capital  of  the  company 
to  $1,500,000  and  extended  the  route  of  the  canal, 
originally  granted  from  the  Hudson  to  the  Delaware 
river,  along  the  latter  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Lack- 
awaxen. The  company  was  also  given  banking  priv- 
ileges for  twenty  years.  In  1864  the  capital  was 
increased  to  $10,000,000. 

On  May  2nd,  1829  an  act  was  passed  loaning  the 
credit  of  the  State  of  New  York  "  to  the  President, 
Managers  and  Company  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Canal  Company  ...  in  such  sums  as  the 
said  company  may  require,''  special  certificates  of  stock 
to  the  amount  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars 
redeemable  at  any  time  after  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  forty-nine,  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
State,  and  bearing  an  interest  at  the  rate  of  four  and 
a  half  per  cent  per  annum. 

The  canal  being  assured  preliminary  surveys  began. 
234 


Building  the  Delaivare  and  Hudson  Canal 


The  route  to  tide  water  was  found  to  be  the  most  prac- 
ticable along  the  west  base  of  the  Shawangunk  moun- 
tains to  the  Hudson,  thus  using  the  beautiful  valley  of 
the  Rondout.  Benjamin  Wright  was  the  first  chief 
engineer  but  was  soon  succeeded  by  John  B.  Jervis, 
whose  name  was  given  to  the  village  of  Port  Jervis. 
The  a?;sistant  to  both  was  James  S.  McEntee.  All  had 
been  engaged  in  laying  out  the  line  of  the  great  Erie 
canal,  which  preliminary  survey  had  been  completed 
January  8,  1820,  and  its  construction  had  begun  with 
the  passing  of  the  frost.  As  soon  as  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  Canal  Company  was  organized  Jervis  and 
McEntee  left  the  former  enterprise  and  engaged  upon 
the  latter.  Preliminary  surveys  completed,  plans  made 
and  contracts  let,  on  the  13th  of  July,  1825  the  first 
spadeful  of  ground  was  thrown  out.  McEntee  was 
appointed  resident  engineer  of  the  first  twenty  miles 
from  tide-water  at  the  falls  at  Eddyville.  Rensselaer 
Schuyler  took  a  contract  to  build  thirty  locks  and 
began  one  the  same  year  (1825).  In  building  the  locks 
of  the  Erie  Canal  it  was  supposed  that  cement  would 
have  to  be  imported  from  Europe  to  lay  the  stone 
work  below  water.  But  a  deposit  had  been  found  in 
1818  at  Chittenango,  Madison  county,  New  York 
which  had  provided  it  for  the  Erie,  and  Schuyler 
transported  a  quantity  of  it  to  the  site  of  the  first  lock 
he  was  to  build  for  the  Delaware  and  Hudson.  But 
within  a  few  weeks  of  the  day  the  first  sod  on  the  Del- 
aware and  Hudson  was  turned  the  engineers  noticed 
the  close  similarity  of  the  rock  at  High  Falls  to  that  at 
Chittenango  and  determined  to  ascertain  its  value  and 
adaptability.     A  quantity  was  blasted  out,  burned  in 

235 


Olde    Ulster 


the  forge  of  a  blacksmith  at  High  Falls,  pounded  to 
the  necessary  fineness  and  thoroughly  tested.  To  the 
delight  of  the  engineers  it  was  found  to  be  of  the  finest 
quality,  superior  to  any  natural  cement  then  known. 
Here  was  the  material  needed  right  upon  the  spot. 

During  the  winter  following  preparations  were 
made  to  manufacture.  John  Littlejohn  contracted  to 
furnish  what  cement  was  needed  for  the  canal.  As 
early  as  the  following  spring  (1826)  he  commenced 
quarrying,  burning  and  grinding.  The  first  kiln  was 
built  near  the  sulphur  spring  below  High  Falls,  and  the 
burned  stone  drawn  in  bulk  to  the  old  mill  of  Simon 
DePuy  and  ground.  McEntee  directed  the  building 
of  tight  wagon-boxes  of  a  certain  capacity  and  team- 
sters were  paid  by  the  load  drawn.  It  was  found 
necessary  to  erect  more  mills.  These  continued  to 
manufacture  until  the  canal  was  completed.  Then  the 
mining,  burning  and  grinding  ceased.  Littlejohn  had 
completed  his  contract  and  shut  down  his  works.  The 
tremendous  importance  to  Ulster  county  of  the  discov- 
ery of  natural  cement  was  not  yet  apparent. 

There  was  one  man  awake  to  it.  Judge  Lucas 
Elmendorf,  who  had  represented  the  district  in  Con- 
gress three  terms  (1797-1803),  and  who  was  the  most 
energetic  citizen  of  his  day  and  generation  the  old 
county  ever  possessed,  was  awake  to  the  opportunity. 
He  commenced  the  manufacture  at  what  has  since  been 
known  as  Lawrenceville,  grinding  at  the  old  Snyder 
mill.  Then  the  Hoffmans  followed  in  the  business 
at  Hickory  Bush.  But  the  story  may  be  left  to  a  later 
opportunity  for  narration.  The  decade  from  1825  to 
1835  was  a  wonderful  one  in  developing  the  county.    It 

236 


Building  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal 

witnessed  the  building  of  the  canal,  the  opening  of  the 
bluestone  quarries,  the  discovery  and  manufacture  of 
"  Rosendale  cement,"  the  development  of  the  great 
manufacturing  interests  at  Saugerties,  the  opening  of 
the  unlimited  transportation  of  coal  to  the  markets  of 
the  United  States,  the  building  of  Rondout  and  the 
construction  of  the  fleet  of  Hudson  river  vessels  to 
convey  these  millions  of  tons  of  merchandise  to  the 
markets  awaiting  them 

The  work  of  constructing  the  canal  was  pushed  with 
energy.  Its  completion  was  rapid  and  it  was  opened 
for  business  in  October,  1828.  As  originally  con- 
structed it  afforded  a  depth  of  four  feet  of  water  nav- 
igable for  boats  of  thirty  tons.  In  1842  it  was  enlarged 
to  accommodate  boats  carrying  forty  tons,  and  in  1851 
farther  enlarged  to  the  capacity  of  boats  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  tons.  By  1874  boats  carrying  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  tons  used  the  canal.  The  great  article  carried 
was  anthracite  coal.  The  first  cargo  of  this  was  carried 
in  1829  and  during  that  year  7,000  tons  were  trans- 
ported. In  1872  2,930,333  tons  reached  tide  water  by 
the  canal.  The  railroad  from  Honesdale  (the  Penn- 
sylvania terminus  of  the  canal)  to  the  mines  was  begun 
in  1827  and  completed  in  1829. 

The  original  cost  of  the  canal  was  $2,037,117  of 
which  amount  $1,424,994  was  spent  in  the  State  of 
New  York  until  the  Pennsylvania  line  was  reached. 

In  the  summer  of  1829  there  was  carried  up  the 
canal  the  pioneer  of  the  machine  that  was  to  be  the 
destruction  of  the  enterprise.  It  was  the  first  locomo- 
tive engine  used  in  America.     It   was  to   be    placed 

237 


Olde     Ulste 


upon  the  railroad  from  Honesdale  to  the  mines.  As 
the  years  went  by  it  was  found  that  railroads  could  be 
built  up  the  steep  grades  necessary  to  reach  the  coal 
fields  and  they  were  constructed  and  gradually 
increased  their  mileage  and  carrying  capacity.  The 
days  of  the  canal  were  numbered.  At  last,  in  the 
year  1898,  the  last  boat  came  to  tide  water,  the  water 
was  drawn  off  and  the  canal  abandoned.  On  the  tow- 
path,  for  many  miles  to-day,  is  the  track  of  the  loco- 
motive. The  canal  remains  for  a  few  miles  from  the 
Hudson  to  convey  cement.  It  seems  to  exist  to  repay 
its  debt  to  the  article  discovered  in  its  construction. 
But  it  finds  that  natural  cement  too  is  passing  and  the 
day  fast  coming  when,  with  the  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Canal,  Rosendale  cement  will  be  a  thing  of  the  past. 

After  the  close  of  the  canal  at  the  end  of  the  season 
of  1898  the  company  applied  to  the  Legislature  of  New 
York  and  its  corporate  title  was  changed  to  "  The  Del- 
aware and  Hudson  Company."  The  act  also  gave  per- 
mission to  sell  the  canal  and  abandon   the  waterway 

MANUEL    GONZALES  AND  HIS  NICKNAME 


The  following  letter  explains  itself.  The  article 
appeared  upon  pages  172-176  of  the  June,  1910  num- 
ber of  Olde  Ulster.  The  suggestion  regarding  the 
sufifix  to  the  name  of  Manuel  Gonzales  was  given  for 
what  it  was  worth.  The  editor  of  this  magazine  has 
no  theories.  He  threw  out  the  suggestion  that  it 
might  ascertain  the  truth  in  the  matter.  He  would 
say  in  this  connection  that  the  second  edition  of  the 
"  Nederlandsch-Engelsch  Woordenboek  (1892)"  of 
238 


Manuel  Gonzales  and  His  Nickname 

Calisch  thus  defines  delveti  :  "  v.  a.  irr.  (pret.  dolf,  p.  p. 
gedohen),  to  dig,  delve,  hollow."  The  editor  of  ULDE 
Ulster  does  not  pretend  to  be  a  Dutch  scholar  and 
knows  little  of  Dutch  usage  in  such  matters  and  appre- 
ciates being  set  right.  The  editor  thus  gives  his 
readers  the  benefit  of  the  letter  of  Mr.  van  Laer : 

New  York  State  Education  Department        Manuscripts  Section 
New  York  State  Library  a.  j.  f.  van  Laer 

James  I.  \Vyer,  Jr.,  Director  Archivist 

Albany,  N,  Y.,  June  2,  1910. 
My  dear  Mr.  Brink  : 

Having  just  read  your  interesting  article  about 
Manuel  Gonzales,  the  Spaniard,  in  the  June  num- 
ber of  "  Olde  Ulster,"  I  feel  impelled  to  say  that 
I  can  not  agree  with  you  as  to  the  probable  mean- 
ing of  the  nickname  "  dolf"  or  "  duk,"  used  after 
the  name  of  the  elder  Manuel  Gonzales.  To  assume 
that  "  dolf"  may  be  the  preterit  of  the  verb  "  del- 
ven,"  seems  to  me  entirely  contrary  to  the  Dutch 
usage  in  forming  nicknames,  which,  in  all  instances 
that  I  can  recall,  are  composed  of  a  noun,  or  an 
adjective,  or  a  combination  of  the  two,  but  not  of 
a  verbal  tense.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  name 
appears  in  the  printed  Kingston  Church  Records, 
as  Manuel  Gonsalis  dolk,  not  dolf.  "  Dolk,"  as 
you  know,  means  poniard,  a  familiar  weapon  of  the 
Spaniards,  and  it  seems  to  me  much  more  hkely 
therefore  that  this  Spaniard  was  in  the  habit  of 
carrying  a  poniard  and  so  received  his  nickname. 
'*Duk"  may  be  a  careless  reading  of  the  same 
word,  the  o  and  /  having  been  imperfect  and 
together  been  mistaken  for  ?a 

Offering  this  suggestion  for  what  it  is  worth,  I  am, 
Very  truly  yours 

A.  J.  F.  VAN  Laer. 
239 


Anthonij  de  Hooves,  a 

Charming  Personality 

Contributed  by  Helen  Reed  de  Laporte 


ROB  ABLY  there  is  no  more  picturesque  a 
personality  in  all  the  colonial  records 
than  Anthonij  de  Hooges.  We  first 
learn  of  him  in  1641,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Patroon  of  Rensselaers- 
wyck,  sailing  on  den  Coninck  David,  the 
skipper  being  commanded  to  allow  him 
to    eat    and   sleep    in    the    cabin.     He 

brought   letters    of    introduction    to    Willem    Kieft, 

Director-General,  and    also  to  Arent   Van   Curler,  to 

whom  he  was  sent  as  an  assistant. 

He   kept    a   journal    of   his   long   voyage  for   the 

patroon.     It  begins: 

"In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1641,  the  30th  of  July,  I 
commenced  this  journal  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  May  the 
Lord  conduct  us  to  the  place  of  our  destination  in  order 
that  on  our  arrival  we  may  offer  to  the  Lord  the  offering  of 
our  lips  to  His  honor  and  our  Salvation.     Amen." 

They  had  an  unusually  stormy  passage.  He 
closes  his  journal,  saying  : 

"At  day  break  we  ran  to  the  sand  point  [Sandy  Hook] 
and  we  rounded  it  too  close.     We  got  aground  on  a  reef 


240 


Anthonij  de  Hooges,  a  Charming  Personality 


which  had  formed  there  within  a  year.  After  two  hours  we 
got  afloat  again.  God  be  praised  we  suffered  no  damage 
and  with  good  speed  passed  between  the  Hoofden  [the 
headlands  at  the  sides  of  the  Narrows]  and  in  the  afternoon 
came  to  anchor  at  the  Manhatans,  in  front  of  Smits  Vly  [on 
the  East  river].  Thus  the  Lord  deUvered  us  at  last,  after 
much  adversity,  for  which  He  be  praised  forever,  Amen. 
The  next  day  a  dead  horse  overboard. 
[Endorsed] 

"  Journal  of  anthonij 
de  Hoges,  of  his  voyage 
to  New  Netherland 
beginning  30  July 
ending  29  November 
1641." 

One  year  later  Kiliaen  van  Rensselaer  writes  him 
that  the  journal  had  been  received  and  had  given  him 
great  satisfaction.  The  letter  is  filled  with  advice  and 
van  Rensselaer  evidently  felt  a  deep  interest  in  him. 
"In  the  beginning,"  he  writes,  "hear  and  see,  notice 
and  learn,  obey  and  make  yourself  agreeable  and  liked  ; 
in  that  way  you  will  be  able  to  accomplish  much." 
That  he  considers  his  counsel  worth  seeking  was  shown 
by  a  letter  to  Domine  Megapolensis  urging  him  "  to 
confer  sometimes  with  de  Hooge  and  extract  the 
quintessence  of  his  discourse." 

Van  Curler,  de  Hooges'  superior  officer,  was  some- 
what dissipated  and,  going  from  bad  to  worse,  all  his 
papers  were  turned  over  to  de  Hooges.  Then  van 
Rensselaer  writes  again  to  Domine  Megapolensis  : 

"Every  effort  ought  to  be  made  to  stop  the  excessive 
drinking  and  now  that  there  is  a  public  brewer  [Evert  Pels] 
241 


Qlde     Ulster 


I  hope  that  private  brewing  will  cease.  ...  I 
hope  that  Anthonie  de  Hooges  will  conduct  himself  well. 
What  I  fear  most  for  him  is  that  he  may  become  addicted  to 
drink,  against  which  he  must  be  strongly  warned.  His 
sweetheart  here  in  the  Netherlands  Anneken  Sporojn,  married 
at  Campen,  so  that  he  need  not  wait  for  her  any  longer.  I 
have  sometimes  thought  that  his  thoughts  were  too  much 
concentrated  on  her,  and  that  he  liked  the  country  less  on 
that  account.  You  may  tell  him  this  when  there  is  an  oppor- 
tunity or  have  somebody  else  tell  him  in  order  that  he  may 
be  at  ease.  .  .  .  Let  him  behave  well  and 

have  patience  and  he  will  be  advanced  in  due  time." 

That  he  stood  high  in  the  opinion  of  van  Rensselaer 
a  letter  to  van  Curler  shows,  for  he  told  the  latter 
"  not  to  lightly  reject  the  advice  of  hooges,  although  he 
is  younger  than  you  and  not  so  experienced.  I  con- 
sider him  an  upright  young  man.''  March  i8,  1643  the 
patroon  writes  to  de  Hooges  himself : 

"I  have  your  letters  of  the  first  of  March  and  the  i8th 
of  August  of  last  year,  1642,  ...  I  have 

recommended  you  well,  as  you  will  learn  from  d^  megapolenzis, 
but  I  must  admonish  you  to  be  religious  and  faithful  and 
especially  to  guard  yourself  against  drunkenness  and  lewd 
women.  There  are  many  rumors  current  about  the  first,  but 
you  can  best  test  the  matter  yourself;  heed  the  faithful 
admonitions  of  your  pastor  d^  Megapolensis  and  do  not  follow 
the  footsteps  of  those  who  may  be  guilty  thereof,  but  fear  the 
Lord  ;  do  right  and  fear  no  one.  You  Avih  do  well  to  keep 
and  send  me  a  daily  journal,  giving  a  truthful  account 
of  affairs,  lor  I  have  no  use  for  things  that  are  not  true. 
I  hope  that  you  will  have  more  and 
more  satisfaction  ;  all  new  things  are  difficult  but  matters  will 
turn  out  to  your  advantage  if  you  conduct  yourself  well.      I 

242 


Anthonij  de  Hooges,  a  CJiarming  Personality 

must  thank  you  for  communicating  to  me  the  text  of  the 
first  sermon  of  d^  megapolensis  ;  no  other  foundation  can 
and  ought  to  be  laid.      Vale.'" 

The  position  of  de  Hooges  was  a  responsible  one. 
He  was  commissioner  and  administrator  of  goods  suit- 
able for  merchandise,  and  was  to  pay  the  laborers.  We 
find  him  leasing  farms  and  making  contracts  for  build- 
ings. From  the  departure  of  van  Curler  for  Holland 
October  i,  1646  until  the  arrival  of  Brant  Aertsz  van 
Schlichtenhorst  March  22,  1648  he  was  entrusted  with 
the  business  management  of  the  colony. 

From  the  latter  date  until  his  death  on  or  about 
October  11,  1655  he  held  the  office  of  secretary  and 
geconirnitteerde  (commissioner),  also  that  of  voorleser 
or  reader  in  the  church.  In  a  petition  for  the  pay- 
ment of  his  salary  he  states  that  he  must  have  a  house 
built  for  him,  inasmuch  as  the  stone  house  assigned  to 
him  has  been  turned  into  a  church. 

He  married  in  October,  1647  Eva  Bradt,  daughter 
of  Albert  Andriesz  Bradt,  the  Norman.  Remsen  is 
mistaken  when  he  says  :  "  His  daughter  and  only 
child  "  married  Herman  Rutgers,  for  in  the  marriage 
agreement  between  Roelof  Swartwout  and  Eva  Albert- 
sen  Bradt,  widow  of  Anthonie  de  Hooges,  August  13, 
1657,  the  bride  serves  for  each  of  her  children  with  her 
former  husband,  Marichen,  Anneken,  Catrina,  Johan- 
nis  and  Eleonora  de  Hooges,  one  hundred  gulden  each. 

One  point  of  land  still  perpetuates  his  memory, 
Anthony's  Nose  in  the  Highlands,  referred  to  in  the 
early  records  as  "  Antonio's  Nose." 


This  magazine  is  devoted  to  the  history  of  "  the 

243 


O  Ide    Ulste  r 


244 


The  Old  Kingston  Academy 


Esopus,"  or  Ulster  county  in  its  original  sense.  While 
de  Hooges  had  no  direct  connection  therewith,  in  fact 
died  before  1658,  when  the  first  settlement  was  laid 
out  and  stockaded,  it  was  with  him  as  secretary  of  the 
great  landed  estate  of  the  patroon,  van  Rensselaer, 
that  the  earliest  settlers  at  the  Esopus,  as  Thomas 
Chambers,  had  to  do.  These  came  from  Rensselaers- 
wyck.  Olde  Ulster  has  published  the  business 
accounts  of  Chambers  with  the  patroon  (Vol.  III., 
pages  303-311)  and  told  the  story  of  "The  Settlement 
of  Katskill  (Leeds),"  (Vol.  V.,  pages  33-41).  It  was 
with  de  Hooges  that  the  settlers  dealt.  Besides  this 
the  marriage  of  his  widow  with  Roelof  Swartwout, 
the  first  sheriff  at  the  Esopus,  brought  her  to  live 
here. 

4*4*4* 

THE  OLD  KINGSTON  ACADEMY 


On  the  southwest  corner  of  John  and  Crown  streets 
in  the  City  of  Kingston  is  still  standing  the  building 
of  the  old  Kingston  Academy.  This  institution  was 
founded  in  1774  and  soon  became  the  most  celebrated 
institution  of  learning  in  the  State.  Its  reputation 
spread  until  prominent  men  made  Kingston  their 
home  that  their  children  might  receive  the  advantages 
of  the  best  education  of  the  day.  About  the  begin- 
ning of  the  last  century  the  academy  was  removed  to 
its  present  site  and  the  old  building  was  sold.  It 
should  be  owned  by  the  Kingston  Board  of  Education 
and  made  the  home  of  that  organization. 

245 


Olde     Ulster 


SLAVERY  IN  ULSTER  COUNTY 


Whereas  by  the  Last  will  and  Testament  of  CorneUus 
Newkerk  Late  of  the  Town  of  Hurley  Deceased  it  appears 
that  his  Negro  man  Named  Charles  was  to  Continue  the  sole 
property  of  his  Wife  Diana  During  her  Life  Time  and  after 
her  Decease  to  Descend  to  his  heirs,  the  Underwritten  Sub- 
scribers Heirs  to  the  Said  CorneUus  Newkirk,  And  Whereas 
we  the  Said  Dianah  and  Underwritten  Subscribers  Heirs  to 
the  Said  Cornelius  Newkerk  do  hereby  mutually  agree  to  and 
with  the  Said  Negro  man  Charles,  that  he  Shall  have  his 
freedom  from  the  Date  of  these  presents,  Provided  that  he 
the  Said  Charles  Do  Maintain  and  Support  his  mother  Gin 
an  Aged  Negro  Wench  in  Such  a  manner  that  we  the  Sub- 
scribers may  Not  hereafter  become  Chargeable  Nor  Account- 
able in  Supporting  or  maintaining  Gin  Negro  Wench,  upon 
the  above  Conditions  we  Do  hereby  Manumit  the  above 
Said  Negroe  Charles  and  Order  the  Same  to  be  Entered  in 
the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Said  Town  of  Hurley  this  15  Day  of 
August  1800. 

Corns.    Newkirk, 
Entered  of  Record  pf.  me.        Corns.  Newkerk,  Junr., 
Derick  DuBois,  T.  C.         Peter  DuBois, 
Peter  Newkerk, 
Cornelius  Dumond. 

(This  magazine  is  indebted  to  Chaplain  R.  R.  Hoes, 
U.  S.  N.,  for  the  above  manumission. — The  Editor). 

The  northwest  corner  of  the  New  Paltz  patent, 
given  as  an   illustration  on  page  202,  Vol.  VL  (July 
1910)    of    Olde    Ulster,    is   thus  mentioned  in   the 
Revised  Statutes  of  the  State  of  New  York  (1829) : 
246 


Lineage  of  the  Christian  Meyer  Family 

"  The  town  of  Hurley  shall  contain  all  that  part  of  said 
county  [Ulster]  beginning  at  a  flat  rock  known  by  the  name 
of  Tawrataque,  being  the  northwest  corner  of  the  New 
Paltz  patent,  etc." 

The  formation  of  the  town  of  Rosendale  in  1844 
out  of  the  towns  of  Hurley,  Marbletown  and  New 
Paltz  so  changed  the  bounds  of  the  town  of  Hurley 
that  its  boundaries  no  longer  reach  this  rock. 

LINE  A  GE  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  ME  YER  FA  MIL  Y 


Continued  from  Vol.  VI. ,  page  222 


(CV.)  Petrus  D.  Myer4  (David3,  Petrus2,  Chris- 
tian!) by  occupation  a  farmer,  was  born  24  June  1791, 
at  Saugerties  N.  Y.,  married  18  March  1815,  at  Kats- 
baan,  N.  Y.,  Sarah  Hommel,  born  16  March  1787, 

daughter  of  Herman  Hommel   and .     Petrus    D. 

served  as  a  soldier  of  the  war  1812,  in  the  company  of 
Captain  John  Gillespy  from  Saugerties.  They  removed 
from  Katsbaan  to  Fawns/N.  Y.,  in  1823,  where  he  died 
6  March  1848.  Sarah  died  6  July  i860.  Children: 
b  (363)  RebeccaS;  B.  19  Sep.  1815;  d.21  Feb.  1882. 
a  (364)  DavidP.5:  B.  29  Aug.  1817  ;  d.  23  0ct.  1883. 
a    (365)     Stephen  P.s :  B.   16   Aug.   1820;  d.  lo  Nov. 

1892. 
b  (366)  Catherines;  B.  7  March  1823;  mar.  27  Feb. 
1846,  Henry  Hommel;  b.  13  Aug.  1819, 
son  of  Ephraim  Hommel  and  Catherine 
Dederick.  Henry  d.  10  Aug.  1887  ;  Cathe- 
rine, his  wife,  d.  I  July  I903. 
247 


Olde     Ulster 


a    (367)     Christian':    B.    6    July    1825;    d.    20    Jan. 
1901. 

(CVI.)  Benjamin  D.  Myer^  (David3,  Petrus2, 
Christian!)  by  occupation  a  carpenter  and  farmer,  was 
born  I  May  1799  at  Basic,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  ;  mar- 
ried 23  Feb.  1822  at  Katsbaan,  N.  Y.,  Mary  Mag- 
dalen Alida  Van  Vlierden,  born  9  Aug.  1793, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Petrus  Van  Vlierden  and  Maria 
Magdalen  Houdtkoper.  Benjamin  D.  died  2  Aug. 
1850.  Mary  Magdalen  Alida  died  5  Jan.  1858.  They 
resided  at  Katsbaan.  Children  ; 
b  (368)  Davids :  B.  7  Jan.  1823  ;  d.  2  Sep.  1842. 
a    (369)     Jane  Catherine' :  B.  3  Dec.  1824;  d.  12  Apr. 

1898. 
t>    (370)     Julia    Ann':  B.    26    Jan.   1827;  d.  31    Mar. 

1855. 
b    (371)     Peter   Van  Vlierden' :   B.    3   July    1829;  d. 

9  July  1837. 
b    (372)     William':  B.  21  June  1832;  d.  7  Sep.  1833. 
t>    (373)     Mary    Elizabeth':   B.  29    Sep.    1835;  d.   13 

Jan.  i860, 
a    (374)     Peter  William':  B.  1 1  Oct.  1838;  d.  13  Dec. 

1886. 

(CVII.)  Levi  D.  Myer4  (David3,  Petrus2,  Chris- 
tiani),  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was  born  at  Basic, 
Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  31  May,  1802;  mar- 
ried at  Saugerties,  N.  Y.,  6  November  1824  Mary 
Myer  (183);  born  19  January,  1804.  Levi  D.  died  28 
November,  i860.  Mary  died  27  April,  1885.  They 
resided  at  Plattekill  (Mount  Marion),  New  York. 
Children : 

248 


Lineage  of  the  Christian  Meyer  Family 


a    (375)     HarveyS:  B.  2  June  1827. 

b    (376)     Mary  JaneS :  B. :  married  Peter  Saile. 

b    (377)     Lavina^:  B. ;  married  Jeremiah  Whitaker. 

(CVIII.)     Catharina    Myer4     (David^,    Petrus2, 
Christiani)  was  born  in  Katsbaan,  New  York  29  May, 
1805;  married  at  Katsbaan   15  October,   1829  Peter 
C.    WiNNE,   a   farmer,  born  7  January,    1803,  son  of 
Cornelius  Winne   and    Elizabeth    Backer.     Catharina 
died  7  March,  1856.     Peter  C.  died  22  August,   1877. 
They  resided  at  Katsbaan,  New  York.     Children: 
b    (378)     John  Valentine^:  B.  3  Nov.   1830;  married 
(ist)  18  Oct.   1854  Eliza  Catherine   Kim- 
ble, born  15  Sept.   1833,  daughter  of  John 
P.    Kimble   and   Altie    Wynkoop.     Eliza 
Catherine  died    15  May,    1868.     John  V. 
Winne  married   (2nd)  6  June  1872  Anne 
Sax,    born    17  Feb.    1831,    died    27    May 
1900,  daughter  of  John  P.  Sax  and  Eliza- 
beth Wynkoop.     No  issue  of  second  mar- 
riage.    John  V.  died  24  May,  1893. 
b    (379)     Catherines :  B.  26  Dec.  1836;  died  18  March 
i860. 

(LXXV.)  Cornelius  Myer^  (Christian^  John 
Wilhelm^,  Christian^)  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Catskill,  Greene  county.  New 
York,  14  October,  1764;  married  at  Kingston,  New 
York,  29  April,  1787,  Maria  Britt,  born  16  May, 
1765,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Britt  and  Margaret  Backer. 
Cornelius  Myer  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  in 
First  Regiment  Ulster  County  Militia.  In  his  will, 
executed  18  May,  1828,  he  mentions  his  father  Chris- 
249 


Olde      Ulster 


tian  and  his  children  Jonathan,  Wyntje,  Nellie,  Sarah, 
Polly,  Ann  and  Mahala.  He  resided  in  Kiskatom  in 
the  town  of  Catskill,  New  York.  Cornelius  died  22 
July,  1828.  Maria  died  17  September  1845.  Chil- 
dren : 

a  (380)  WyntjeS:  B.  30  Jan.  1788. 

a  (381)  NeeltjeS:  Bap.  Katsbaan,  30  Jan.  1790, 

a  (382)  Jonathan^:  Bap.  Katsbaan  5  May,  1792. 

a  (383)  Sarahs :  g^p^  Katsbaan  13  Sept.  1794. 

a  (384)  Catherine^  :  B.  21  June  1797. 

a  (385)  Mary  MagdalenaS:  B.  29  Jan.  1800. 

a  (386)  Annatjes :  B.  6  Sept.  1802. 

a  (387)  Mahalas :  B.  25  Feb.  1805. 

(LXXVI.)  Jonathan  Myer^  (Christian^  John 
Wilhelm^,  Christiani),  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Catskill,  New  York,  9  August, 
1766;  married  at  Kingston,  New  York,  12  March, 
1790,  Catherine  Van  Leuven,  bom  i  March,  1762. 
Jonathan  died  3  January,  181 5.  Catherine  died  7 
May,  1822.  They  resided  at  Katsbaan,  New  York. 
No  children. 

(LXXVII.)  Hendricus  Myer4  (Christians,  John 
Wilhelm2,  Christian^),  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Catskill,  New  York,  6  August 
1768  ;  married  at  Katsbaan,  New  York  2  July,  1796 
Marietje  Persen,  born  4  October  1772;  daughter  of 
Cornelius  Persen  and  Elizabeth  Masten.  Hendricus 
died  13  September  1853.  Marietje  died  2  July,  1853. 
They  resided  at  Brabant  in  the  town  of  Kingston, 
New  York.     Children  : 

250 


Lineage  of  the  Christian  Meyer  Family 

b  (388)  Mary  Anna^:  B.  11  June  1797;  married  20 
Feb.  1815,  Jacob  Hasbrouck  DeWitt,  b.  2 
Oct.  1784,  son  of  Col.  Thomas  De  Witt 
and  Elsje  Hasbrouck.  Mary  Anna  d.  13 
July,  1816.  Jacob  Hasbrouck  d.  30  Jan. 
1857.  They  resided  in  Marbletown,  New 
York.     No  issue. 

b  (389)  Jannitje  Elizabeths :  B.  18  Sept.  1799;  mar- 
5  Jan.  1820  Richard  W.  Tappen,  b.  22 
Jan.  1798,  son  of  George  Tappen  and 
Anna  Kiersted.  Jannitje  Elizabeth  d.  6 
Nov.  1856.  Richard  W.  d.  14  Sept.  1866. 
No  issue. 

b  (390)  Cornelius  PersenS :  B.  16  Aug.  1802;  d.  24 
Sept.  1805. 

a    (391)     Cornelius  Persen^ :  B.  11  Oct.  1807. 

b  (392)  JamesS;  B.  30  May  1811  ;  d.  28  April  1883. 
Not  married. 

b    (393)     A  sonS :  B.  6  Sept.  1813  ;  d.  6  Sept.  1813. 

a  (394)  Mary  Anna^:  B.  6  June  1820;  d.  29  April 
1848. 

(LXXVni.)  Leah  Myer4  (Christian^  John 
Wilhelm^,  Christian!)  was  born  in  Kiskatom  in  the 
town    of   Catskill,  N.  Y.,   19  October,  1770 ;  married 

Andrew  Van  Leuven,  son  of 

and  — • ,  born  10  May,  1767.     Leah 

died  30  July,  1825.     Andrew  died  20  February,  1836. 
They  resided  in  Kington,  New  York.     Children : 

b    (395)     Benjamins  :  B.  25  Sept.  1795. 

b    (396)     Williams :  B.  2  Nov.  1796;  died  about  1812. 

b    (397)     SallyS:  B.  14  May  1798.     Unmarried. 

251 


Olde     Ulster 


b  (398)  Catherine^:  B.  i  Dec.  1800;  mar.  Matthew 
Stewart. 

b  (399)  Cornelius  M.S;  B.  7  Aug.  1803;  mar.  Mar- 
garet Van  Keuren. 

b  (400)  Hannahs :  B.  7  Apr.  1805;  'i^ar.  Richard 
Jones. 

b    (401)     Andrews;  B.  18  Sept.  1807. 

b  (402)  MaryS;  B.  15  July  1809;  mar.  Nelson  Tal- 
mage. 

b  (403)  Jane^:  B.  23  Apr.  181 1  ;  mar.  Samuel  Cole- 
man. 

b  (404)  Almira^:  B.  2  June  1813  ;  mar.  William 
Ziegler. 

(LXXX.)  Hezekiah  Myer4  (Christians,  John 
Wilhelm^,  Christian^),  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was 
born  in  Kiskatom,  New  York,  8  June  1775  '-  married  at 
Katsbaan,    New    York,    6    June,    1802     Margaret 

SCHOONMAKER  ;  born  21  Sept,  1784,  daughter  of 

and  .     Margaret  died   i   March,  1862. 

Hezekiah   died    10  May,    1868.     They    resided    near 

Palenville,  Greene  county,  New  York.     Children  : 

a    (405)     William  F.^:  B.  22  Apr.  1804. 

b    (406)     AsonS;  B.  12  Sept.  1805;  d.  13  Sept.  1805. 

a    (4o7)     Jane  PameliaS;  B.  7  Sept,  1807. 

b    (408)     James    Demarest^:  B.  25  Mar.  1808;  d.  30 

Dec.  1898;  unmarried, 
b    (409)     Peter  Valentine^:    B.  24  Sept.   181 1;  d.   15 

Aug.  1839;  unmarried. 
a    (410)     Sarah  Maria^:  B.  11  Nov.  1814. 
a    (411)     Jonathan^:  B.  20  Mar.  1818. 
a    (412)     Catherine  Ann^ :  B.  4  Jan.  1821. 
a    (413)     Charlottes :  B.  16  Aug.  1826. 
252 


Lintage  of  the  Christian  Meyer  Family 

(LXXXI.)  Catherine  Myer*  (Christian^  John 
Wilhelm2,  Christiani)  was  born  at  Kiskatom  in  the 
town  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  5  September  1777  ;  married  18 
February,  1798  Samuel  Wells,  by  occupation  a 
farmer,  born  I2  August,  1773,  son  of  Hendricus  Wells 
and  Margarita  Burhans.  Catherine  died  27  January, 
1842.  Samuel  died  17  August,  1858.  Residence  at 
Durham,  N.  Y.,  until  about  1815  when  he  removed  to 
Katsbaan,  New  York.     Children  : 

a  (414)  Sarahs :  Born  in  Durham,  N.  Y.,  27  Dec. 
1799  ;  died  25  Dec.  1831. 

b  (415)  Catherine  Ann^:  B.  in  Durham  5  Aug.  1801  ; 
mar.  11  Mar.  1829  Peter  H.  Brink,  b.  16 
Aug.  1790,  son  of  Petrus  Brink  and  Sarah 
Cole.  Catherine  Ann  d.  24  July  1833. 
Peter  H.  d.  7  Mar.  1861. 

b  (416)  HenryS:  B.  at  Oak  Hill,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y., 
27  May  1804;  mar.  28  Feb.  1832  Margaret 
Brink,  b.  20  Jan.  1807,  daughter  of  An- 
drew Brink  and  Anna  Persen.  Henry  d. 
22  Feb.  1834.  Margaret  d.  8  Apr.  1886. 
No  issue. 

a  (417)  Christian  MyerS :  B.  at  Durham  30  July, 
1806  ;  d.  29  Jan.  1893. 

b  (418)  JamesS;  B.  Durham  13  Dec.  1809;  married 
16  Sept.  1845,  Fanny  H.  Winans,  b.  8  July, 
1822,  dau.  of  Darius  Winans  and  Betsy 
Holmes.  James  d.  31  Mar.  1878.  Fanny 
H.  d.  10  Jan.  1907.  Resided  in  Katsbaan, 
N.  Y.,  and  later  in  Flatbush,  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.     No  issue. 


253 


Olde     Ulster 


b  (419)  Margaret  Maria^ :  B.  in  Durham  3  Oct. 
1811  ;  mar.  8  June,  1842  the  Rev.  Josiah 
Judson  Buck,  b.  30  Mar.  1794,  son  of 
Asaph  Buck  and  Phoebe  Wainwright. 
The  Rev.  Josiah  Judson  d.  17  Apr.  1870. 
Margaret  M.  d.  9  Apr.  1901. 

(LXXXIV.)  JANNITJE  MYER4  (Christian^  John 
Wilhelm^,  Christian^)  was  born  10  June,  1784  ;  married 
at  Katsbaan,  N.  Y.,  18  February  18 13  Henry  Brink, 
born  14  August,  1780,  by  occupation  a  farmer,  son  of 
Petrus  Brink  and  Sarah  Cole.  Henry  died  25  July, 
1815.  Jannitje  died  22  March,  1873.  They  resided 
in  the  town  of  Saugerties,  New  York.  Child  : 
b    (420)     Sally  Anns  :B.  iq  Dec.  181 3;  mar.  12  Oct. 

1836  Peter  P.  Sharp,  b. ;  son  of  Peter  P 

Sharp, M.D., and  Margaret Whitaker.  Sally 
Ann  d.  22  May,  1895.     Peter  P.  d. . 

(>LXXXV.)  Benjamin  C.  Myer^  (Christiana,  john 
Wilhelm^,  Christian^),  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  19  December, 
1787  ;  married  at  Katsbaan,  New  York,  23  Septem- 
ber, 1810  Rachel  Myer  (149),  born  8  November, 
1783,  daughter  of  Johannes  Myer  and  Seletje  Snyder. 
Benjamin  C.  died  22  September,  1839.  Rachel  died 
14  May,  1855.  They  resided  in  the  town  of  Sauger- 
ties, New  York.  Children  : 
a    (421)     Gerrit  Mynderses :  B.  15  June,  i8ii;d.  13 

Sept.  1873. 
a    (422)     Louisas :  b.  3  May  1814:  d.  23  July  1890. 

To  be  continued 
254 


Organizing  the  State  Government  at  Kingston 

ORGANIZING  THE  STATE  GOVERNMENT 
A  T  KINGSTON 


{July  JO,  1^77) 


To-day  our  chief  ungirds  his  sword  and  lays  the  blade  at  rest 
To  take  the  oath  of  fealty  to  his  proud  State's  behest  ; 
To-day  obeys  the  voice  that  bids  the  very  sword  to  draw 
Subservient  unquestioned  unto  the  reign  of  law. 

An  era  dawns,  a  sovereign  comes  to  enter  on  his  own, 
An  entity  created  to  be  the  regnant  one — 
The  people's  will  when  registered, — a  court  without  appeal 
The  civil  power  all  power  above  within  the  common  weal. 

Proclaim  the  fact  that  here,  to-day.  in  all  its  ponderous  weight 
On  Clinton's  shoulders  has  been  laid  the  burden  of  the  State. 
"God  save  the  people  ;  save  the  State  ;  let  the  new  govern- 
or be 
Embodied  law,  incarnate  peace,  invested  liberty  ! ' ' 

And  here  upon  these  court-house  steps  to   all   the   world 

proclaim 
"GEORGE  CLINTON  is  our  governor  and  ruleth  in  our 

name. 
GOD  SAVE  THE  PEOPLE  !  "    Let  the  world  in  wonder 

gaze  and  awe 
At  universal  liberty  submissive  unto  law. 

And  as  the  generations  of  their  sons  successively  arise, 

And  all  their  rich  inheritance  of  patriotism  prize. 

May  they  look  back  upon  this  spot,  this  hour,  and  know 

'twas  here 
Our  great  imperial  commonwealth  began  its  proud  career. 

255 


OLDE     VLSTER 


ANHISTORIC^^  &  GENEALOGIC^^  MA  GAZINE 


Publifhed  Monthly,  hi  the  City  of 
King/ton,  New  York,  by 
BENJAMIN     MYER      BRINK 


Te  rms: — Three  dollars  a  year  in  Advance.      S ingle 
Copies,   twenty-five   cents 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  at  the  post  office  at  Kingston,  N.  Y. 

With  all  its  wealth  of  history  this  old  county 
has  no  historical  society  to  gather  and  preserve  its 
records.  We  have  often  spoken  of  the  flourishing 
Ulster  Historical  Society  which  was  organized  in  1859. 
It  began  to  collect  immediately.  But  it  died  as  its 
members  sprang  to  the  defense  of  the  Union  in  the 
Civil  War.  Its  collections  were  dispersed  and  are 
mostly  lost.  The  preservation  of  records  and  doc- 
uments is  fully  as  important  as  their  accumulation.  In 
Livingston  county,  New  York,  is  one  of  the  best  of 
county  historical  societies.  It  has  a  small  park  in  the 
village  of  Geneseo  in  which  it  has  built  a  log  cabin  as 
the  headquarters  of  the  society  and  the  depository  of 
its  collections.  The  society  meets  about  the  county. 
It  has  papers  prepared  and  read.  Many  are  not  of 
great  value,  as  they  are  often  based  upon  insufficient 
investigation  of  data,  or  are  merely  traditions  which 
cannot  be  established.  But  with  these  are  many 
fully  substantiated.  Would  that  Ulster  had  as  vig- 
orous an  organization  ! 

256 


rpORD     HUMMEL 

Teacher  of  the  Violin 

A  graduate    of  the  Ithaca  Conservatory  of  Music  , 

studied    with     pupils  of    Dn     Joachhim    and  Ysaye; 

now  studying  at  the  Metropolitan  College  of  Music, 

New  York  City,   with  Herwegh  von  Ende,  a  pupil  of 

Carl  Halir. 

Studio  : 

No.  224.   Tremper  Avenwe^ 

KINGSTON,  N   V. 
Lessons,  On€  Dcllar 

THE    COLONIAL  DAMES 

OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 

Intend  to  hold  a  Huguenot  exhibit  at  the 
VAN  CORTLANDT  HOUSE,  in  VAN 
CORTLANDT  PARK,  NEW  YORK  CITY 
during  the  summer  and  are  desirous  that 
descendants  of  the  Huguenots  now  living  in  the 
vicinity  oi  New  Paltz  and  Kingston,  who  have 
papers,  pictures,  etc,  will  loan  them  for  the 
exhibit.  Information  may  be  sent  to  Miss 
Haldane  at  The  Huntington,  Pearl  street, 
Kingston  N.  Y. 

Fine  Rugs,  Carpets, 

^  ^  ^  Portieres,  Etc 

WOVEN  BY 

A\RS.    PETER    ELnE^^DORF, 

HURLEY,     N.     Y. 

Some  Handsome   Rugs  For   Sale 

Blue  and  White  Rugs  a  Specialty 


R 


ONDOUT 

SAVINGS    BANK 


Assets      -      -      $3,203,335.96 
Liabilities    -     -      2,977,876.52 

Surplus '*" ^1,3    -     $225,459.44 


VTALENTIN  BURGEVIN'S  SONS 

Established    1H52 

FLORISTS 


Fair   and  Matn    Streets, 
KINGSTON,    N.     V. 


Copies  of  each  number  of  OLD^ 
ULSTER  for  igo^,  igo6,  igoy, 
igoS  and  igog  can  still  be  obtained 
at  twenty  fve  cents  each.